SQUINT AND PAEDRIATIC

Understanding Squint – A Common Vision Disorder Often Emerging in Early Childhood

Squint, technically known as strabismus, is a condition where the two eyes do not align properly, meaning they don’t look in the same direction at the same time. One eye may focus on an object while the other turns in, out, up, or down. This misalignment can be either constant (always present) or intermittent (appearing occasionally, often when the person is tired).

Squint is more commonly observed in children, affecting about 2% of those under 3 years and around 3% of all children and young adults. It can affect just one eye consistently or switch between the eyes. For instance, the right eye might be straight at one moment, while the left eye turns inward or outward the next, and then they may switch roles.

As a leading squint eye specialist in Mumbai, we provide comprehensive diagnosis and advanced treatment options for squint (strabismus), ensuring precise eye alignment and better vision outcomes.

Types of Squint

Squint can vary based on the direction in which the affected eye turns. Understanding the different types is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Here’s a closer look at the main categories:

• Convergent Squint (Esotropia) - In this type, one eye turns inward, focusing toward the nose while the other eye looks straight ahead. Esotropia is one of the most common forms of squint and can be present from birth or develop later in childhood.
• Divergent Squint (Exotropia) - This occurs when one eye turns outward, away from the nose, while the other remains focused. Exotropia is often noticed when a person is tired, daydreaming, or looking at distant objects.
• Vertical Squint (Hypertropia / Hypotropia) - Vertical squints involve an upward (hypertropia) or downward (hypotropia) deviation of one eye. In this case, one eye points higher or lower than the other, affecting depth perception and overall vision alignment.

At Kenia Eye Hospital, our best squint surgeon in Mumbai provides thorough evaluations and personalized treatment plans for all types of squint, ensuring better eye alignment and improved vision for every patient.

Causes of Squint

The exact cause of squint in many children is often unclear. In most cases, it results from the brain having difficulty coordinating the eye muscles to move together properly. It’s important to note that this isn’t a problem with the eye muscles themselves but rather with the way the brain controls them.

Other factors that can lead to squint include:

• Refractive Errors: Conditions like hypermetropia (long-sightedness), myopia (short-sightedness), or astigmatism, where the shape of the eye affects how light is focused, can sometimes cause a squint.


• Unequal Refractive Error: When there is a significant difference in the refractive power of each eye, it can disrupt normal eye alignment, potentially leading to a squint.

We offer the latest technologies for effective and reliable squint eye treatment in Mumbai, along with personalized care to correct and manage this condition, ensuring better eye alignment and clearer vision.

Trauma and Its Impact on Squint

Trauma can play a significant role in the development of squint. In some cases, a head injury or certain brain conditions can cause the eye to turn in. For example, if a child suddenly develops an inward eye turn accompanied by nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements), it could indicate increased intracranial pressure or a potential brain tumor, requiring immediate medical attention.

Other Causes of Squint Related to Muscle or Nerve Problems:

• Myasthenia Gravis : A neuromuscular disorder that can weaken eye muscles, leading to misalignment.


• Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy : Common in children after a viral infection, causing sudden esotropia (inward eye turn).


• Eye Trauma : Direct injury to the eye can disrupt normal muscle function.


• Duane's Syndrome : A rare congenital condition that limits eye movement.


• Strabismus Fixus : Severe, fixed eye misalignment.


• Untreated Childhood Squint : An untreated squint from childhood can persist into adulthood if not properly managed.


• Post-Squint Surgery Complications : Sometimes, previous surgery can result in muscle imbalances.


• Decompensating Squint : A previously controlled squint that starts worsening over time.


• Paralytic Squint : Often sudden in onset, linked to conditions like hypertension or diabetes.


• Thyroid Eye Disease : Swelling and scarring of the eye muscles can lead to double vision, sometimes requiring surgery.


• Muscle Trauma : Direct trauma to the eye muscles, such as from sinus surgery, can also cause squint.

Early Diagnosis is Key

Early diagnosis is critical for successful Squint treatment. If the proper visual signals are not sent to the brain in the early months after birth, the child may develop amblyopia (lazy eye) and lose the ability to perceive depth (3D or binocular vision).

If you have been searching for a squint doctor near me, look no further than Kenia Eye Hospital for world-class care. We offer expert care for all types of squint.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Squint

Not all cases of squint require surgery. In some cases, non-surgical treatments can effectively improve eye alignment and reduce symptoms like double vision. Here are some common non-surgical approaches:

Prisms : Prism glasses are a specialized type of eyewear designed to manage double vision, especially when it appears suddenly. These lenses work by altering the way light enters the eyes, helping the brain to fuse the two images into one. Prisms can be used as a temporary solution and later incorporated into regular glasses for long-term use. In some cases, they can also improve the cosmetic appearance of a squint when surgery isn’t an option.

Many parents look for a squint eye specialist near me to connect with experienced professionals in their area for immediate help when needed. At Kenia Eye Hospital, we provide compassionate care and cutting-edge solutions to correct squint, helping patients achieve better eye alignment, improved vision, and a higher quality of life.

TREATMENT DONE BY PRISMS

BOTOX : In adults and occasionally in children, Botulinium toxin may be the first line of treatment. The toxin is injected into the muscle at the surface of the eye. It temporarily paralyses the muscle in the direction of the squint and balances the forces producing the misalignment. It causes an overcorrection initially and the eye may move in the direction opposite to the squint in the first few weeks. The eye will gradually straighten and then return to its original position. Repeat injections are usually required to maintain the corrected position of the eye.

SURGICAL OPTION : To achieve surgical correction, the eye muscles in one or both eyes (depending on the degree and direction of the squint), are tightened or loosened. The muscles are shortened and reattached to the eye to tighten or moved further back which has the effect of loosening. If the eye is turning in (convergent squint), the muscle which pulls the eye in (the medial rectus) is moved back and the outer muscle (the lateral rectus) is tightened to straighten the eye. The amount of surgery is based on normograms that are tables which have been developed based on results of muscle surgery in thousands of patients.